brake alignment ...... squeak

[dirtrider]

RE the spring .... it will most probably not shoot the pads back but does help . Take ur front wheel out and press the brake lever and wait a bit ! RE pads on a car , if your car has not got return brake pad springs then it is either a pre 1969 car or a Alfa

[Johan Bornman]

RE the spring .... it will most probably not shoot the pads back but does help . Take ur front wheel out and press the brake lever and wait a bit ! RE pads on a car ' date=' if your car has not got return brake pad springs then it is either a pre 1969 car or a Alfa [/quote']

 

What happened in 1969 that Alfa missed out on?

 

I have never seen return brake pad springs on any car. Perhaps you can refer us to a diagram or description of sorts?

[dirtrider]

You full of sheeet !!! Where must I find this diagram , picture ? There is one on the web but only members can DL . Re Alfa , they still missing out !

[Johan Bornman]

You full of sheeet !!! Where must I find this diagram ' date=' picture ? There is one on the web but only members can DL . Re Alfa , they still missing out ![/quote']

 

 

That may well be so, but it doesn't absolve you from now describing to us how this piston retraction device on all cars bar Alfa works.

 

Where is it and what does it look like?

[Slowbee]

 

You full of sheeet !!! Where must I find this diagram ' date=' picture ? There is one on the web but only members can DL . Re Alfa , they still missing out ![/quote']

 

 

That may well be so, but it doesn't absolve you from now describing to us how this piston retraction device on all cars bar Alfa works.

 

Where is it and what does it look like?

 

hey JB, whats with all this hijacking with Alfa's - solve the squeak, then argue with Alfa regarding springs and diagrams and things ...

 

[Dicky DQ]

Undo the bolts - loose man loose - then apply the breaks and re fasten the bolts. If the pistons are working correctly the caliper will no longer rub, but the pads may.

 

From time to time I find that one of the pistons become sticky and do not get pushed back by the rotor (Sorry Johan this is just my non technical description). so in a ride if it realy bothers me i do this and realign the whole shebang. It works every time.

 

There are yards, ok 4 or 5mm of adustment at the screws. That is if the side is touching the rotor.

 

My 2c's

 

[Climate]

Sometimes the pistons will retract different amounts when releasing the brake (leaving one pad in contact with the rotor and hence the squeak). So you can try a similar technique to Dick's procedure, but apply (and release) the brakes a few times (to simulate normal use). Then loosen the calliper mounting bolts just enough to move the calliper. Now, looking down along the plane of the rotor, you should be able to view a gap between the rotor and the pads on either side ... but you'll probably only see a gap on one side (the other side is rubbing). Move the calliper to allow a gap on either side of the rotor and while holding that adjustment firmly with one hand, snug up each bolt to ensure alignment is maintained, before tightening firmly. Good luck.

[Daxiet]

Slowbee, read my post top of page 2. The rotor should not touch the bracket, the only way this is possible is if the entire rotor as true as it may appear is perfectly bent outwards, or your axle is bent, your hub is loose, the axle is not seated correctly, the fork is bent (twisted inwards) - very unlikely.

 

Can you take a picture of the offending rubbing area and post it. As mentioned before calibrating will not help the bracket rub as the bracket is not adjustable. Something has to be greatly a miss to have the rotor come in contact with the bracket.

 

Another question did you strip down the hub or remove any bolts from it?

 

[Slowbee]

 

Slowbee' date=' read my post top of page 2. The rotor should not touch the bracket, the only way this is possible is if the entire rotor as true as it may appear is perfectly bent outwards, or your axle is bent, your hub is loose, the axle is not seated correctly, the fork is bent (twisted inwards) - very unlikely.

 

Can you take a picture of the offending rubbing area and post it. As mentioned before calibrating will not help the bracket rub as the bracket is not adjustable. Something has to be greatly a miss to have the rotor come in contact with the bracket.

 

Another question did you strip down the hub or remove any bolts from it?

 

[/quote']

 

the only thing i did was to remove the front wheel for transport.

 

possibly the axle might not be seated correctly.

 

my technological knowledge on mechanical things is growing exponentially, but not fast enough to be want to take things apart.

 

 

[Daxiet]

'tis a very odd issue you have. My rotor (185mm Avid) has ~ 2mm clearance from the bracket, the rear 160mm disc has about 3mm clearance, all be it the caliper is a nats chest hair from touching.